What happened to the star of fbi most wanted

FBI: Most Wanted has seen a lot of stars come and go over the past couple of years, with two departing in Season 3 alone. Kellan Lutz left as Kenny Crosby back in the fall, while Julian McMahon heartbreakingly departed when Jess LaCroix was killed off back in the early spring. Now, the show is sadly losing another star with Miguel Gomez exiting, but fans still have plenty of reasons to feel secure for Season 4 based on some comments from Dylan McDermott. 

Miguel Gomez, who has played Special Agent Ivan Ortiz since part way through Season 2, is leaving FBI: Most Wanted because of what Deadline reports is a creative decision. Ortiz was very much part of the team in Season 3, and one of the anchors after the death of Jess and temporary departure of Barnes before Dylan McDermott’s Remy really settled in. 

That said, Ortiz was absent for the Season 3 finale back in May, with the excuse given in the show as him needing to be in Los Angeles to help his unwell father. The finale case could have used all hands on deck, and Dylan McDermott shared with CinemaBlend that Ortiz’s absence meant that it was “a thin team” trying to save the lives of not only their families, but plenty of civilians in New York as well. He bonded with Hana after she returned from her absence, and their friendship will be a sad loss for the series as well as what he brought to the show as a character. 

Of course, Most Wanted is largely a procedural show that has survived the departures and replacements for a number of characters, with Alexa Davalos joining early in Season 3 to replace Crosby and McDermott coming on board in the latter half after a few episodes of aftermath for Jess’ death. The rest of the cast will reportedly remain unchanged, with the returns of McDermott, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Davalos, and Roxy Sternberg.

Why Fans Still Have ‘Security’ For Season 4

Roxy Sternberg, who plays Barnes, was absent from the last several episodes of the third season (which you can rewatch with a Paramount+ subscription) due to her maternity leave, but if Dylan McDermott’s ideas for how Remy and Barnes will interact come to fruition, fans could have a lot to look forward to with their dynamic. In fact, in speaking with CinemaBlend for the Season 3 finale in May, McDermott spoke about the two-season renewal that still leaves fans with something to celebrate. McDermott shared his reaction to the double renewal, as the actor representing what was then the latest cast change: 

It was just like, 'Wow!' It blew my mind. David Hudgins, the showrunner, called me and I just couldn't believe it. A pickup was definitely in my mind, but a two-year pick up? I wasn't even sure that even happened anymore in this world, in this marketplace, so I was just thrilled. Also because the crew and the cast – it gives people some kind of security, and it's so hard to have security in show business. When it happens, it's just the greatest thing. We all gathered round. David was there, and we all celebrated. It was really a great day.

While there are changes on the way with the looming departure of Ortiz, fans do have the security that two more seasons of FBI: Most Wanted are guaranteed. With the other series regulars slated to return, hopefully the beginning of Season 4 will feel like the show getting back to business as usual as much as possible. Whether or not Ortiz will appear as a guest star to be written out or simply have his absence explained by the other agents remains to be seen. Personally, I hope to see Miguel Gomez again on Most Wanted, as Ortiz was a valuable part the team. 

The fourth season of FBI: Most Wanted (opens in new tab) will premiere on CBS in the fall, returning to its time slot on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. to close out a night of FBI action. Both FBI and FBI: International also received renewals for another two seasons, so that solid block of crime drama action will keep on going for the next couple of years. For some viewing options during the summer hiatus, be sure to check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule.

JULIAN McMAHON has left FBI: Most Wanted after three seasons.

The Aussie actor said he decided to leave the show after playing FBI agent Jess LaCroix since 2020.

Why did Jess leave FBI: Most Wanted?

Producers have been tight-lipped about why Julian left the series, but the actor has suggested that he will be pursuing other roles.  

The decision came just months after actor Kellan Lutz also decided to leave the show.

In a statement, Julian told Deadline: “Over the past few months, the producers of FBI: Most Wanted and I have had discussions about my departure from the show in favor of additional creative pursuits and the transition of my character Jess LaCroix.

“These ongoing conversations have given us an opportunity to orchestrate a seamless and productive way for me to leave the show."

He added: “I would like to express the gratitude and admiration I have had working with [executive producers] Dick Wolf and Peter Jankowski.”

“I’m extremely proud of the work we have done together and put the development of this show, and my character Jess, at the top of my professional experience list.”

Julian’s character Jess is the head of the FBI's Most Wanted unit, which handles the bureau's most extreme cases.

According to wiki fan media, the Fugitive Task Force agent “explicitly trusts his team and looks out for the younger agents.”

The page adds that LaCroix is often reticent about his private life and even his agents know that it is not a line to cross.

The character has a daughter called Tali with his late wife Angelyne - who is predominantly cared for by his parents in law.

He works alongside his brother-in-law Clinton, who he " sees more as a brotherly figure rather than his subordinate".

Who is Julian McMahon?

The 53-year-old hails from Sydney, Australia, and starred in Runaways and Hunters following his role in FX's Nip/Tuck.

Prior to moving to Hollywood, Julian appeared in Aussie soap Hojme And Away as Ben Lucini.

It was in this role that he met his first wife, Dannii Minogue, the younger sister of singer Kylie.

The couple married in January 1994 but divorced the following year.

He then wed Baywatch actress Brooke Burns in 1999, but they split in 2001.

The couple has one daughter, Madison, who was born on June 10, 2000.

Julian married for a third time in 2014, to model Kelly Paniagua.

Julian played Cole Turner in Charmed from 2000-2005, but was dramatically killed off by the sisters.

What happened to Jess LaCroix on FBI: Most Wanted?

McMahon's LaCroix debuted in a 2019 episode of CBS' flagship series FBI, before transitioning to FBI: Most Wanted.

He had since appeared in 43 episodes across three seasons.

In his last episode, Jess was shot and killed by an abusive ex-boyfriend of a woman he was trying to save.

His final episode aired in March 2022.

SPOILER ALERT: The following story reveals plot points from Tuesday’s episode of CBS’ FBI: Most Wanted.

Julian McMahon said goodbye to his FBI: Most Wanted character Jess LaCroix in Tuesday night’s episode of the CBS series, and it was heartbreaking to watch for a multitude of reasons.

In the episode, titled “Shattered,” Jess and the team are tackling a complicated domestic violence case and are on the trail of the perpetrator, Harley Ross (Toby Hemingway), and the victim, his longtime girlfriend Lucy Carver (Kelly Swint).

Unraveling this particular case was intensive, as the team races against the clock to beat Harley— who is killing anyone who potentially has information on Lucy’s whereabouts— from finding her first.

Lucy ran away from Harley with the help of an underground network that uses an elaborate website scheme to save victims of domestic abuse. It’s worth noting, Harley is a known drug abuser and cannot be reasoned with.

This case was particularly important to Jess, as his girlfriend Sarah (Jen Landon) was also abused by her former husband.

Amid their search, a new clue blows the whole thing wide open: Lucy had given birth to Harley’s daughter and never told him of her existence. Harley learns their daughter Mia exists and is battling cancer, and within seconds of Harley meeting her at the hospital, Jess and Sheryll Barnes (Roxy Sternberg) interrupt the reunion guns blazing.

Cornered, Harley runs away and Jess follows him to the parking lot. Jess finds a distressed Lucy hiding between cars begging for help. Harley emerges through the darkness and fatally shoots Jess, who is shielding Lucy. Barnes and Ivan Ortiz (Miguel Gomez) bring Harley down, but they are too late. Jess is dead.

In the final beats of the episode, a heartbroken Sarah travels with Jess’ father Byron (Terry O’Quinn) to give Tali (YaYa Gosselin) the heartbreaking news.

Executive producer David Hudgins breaks down McMahon’s final episode, how LaCroix’s death will affect the team moving forward, and when fans can expect to see the newly cast Dylan McDermott.

DEADLINE: We’re all sad to say goodbye to Julian McMahon and Jesse with so much finality. How much prep went into the episode, and was killing Jess off always the only option?

DAVID HUDGINS: As producers, we knew awhile ago that Julian wanted to pursue other creative pursuits. So I got in the room with a writer early on, and we started talking about how Jess would leave the show. We spent a lot of time on it, honestly, exploring every option. Everything was on the table. Ultimately, in the writers room, we kept coming back to this notion that the premise of this show is Most Wanted — we’re chasing the worst of the worst, the most dangerous of the dangerous. Inherently in that line of work, is the constant risk that you can either get injured or killed in the line of duty. And we just decided that true to the premise of the show, this was what was going to happen to Jess— he gets killed in the line of duty. But we also wanted to do it in a way where it was heroic, which is why he dies while trying to save [Lucy]. It’s shocking, it’s tragic. It’s emotional. It’s dramatic. And it was the best story we could do for the exit of this character.

DEADLINE: Did McMahon have any input into the fate of his character?

HUDGINS: Julian did not weigh in. He’s such a pro and such a good guy. He basically told us, “I trust you will do what’s best for the show.”

DEADLINE: What were the emotions like on set when you shot the final moments?

HUDGINS: It was very emotional, as you can imagine, with everybody there, including Julian. We were in a parking lot on Roosevelt Island in New York, in the heart of the city, which is appropriate for the death of that character. It was just extremely emotional for everybody but we all stepped up and got it done in a great way.

DEADLINE: Speaking of emotional, can you share any insight on that final scene where Sarah and Byron travel to tell Tali her dad has died?

HUDGINS: There is a version of this episode that could have ended with just the shooting. But as writers, we were always interested in exploring the emotion, the fallout, the grief, and the reality of that moment — which is why you have Barnes and Hana (Keisha Castle Hughes) telling Sarah. They’re all so great in that scene. And then bringing in Terry O’Quinn so they can go tell Tali at the end — what an emotional punch. It’s still not over. We are going to be exploring those characters and their grief, the team’s grief, and how they’re dealing with his absence over the next couple of episodes.

DEADLINE: Will the team be dealing with the events of tonight’s episode for the remainder of the season?

HUDGINS: We designed Jess’ exit so, in the next two episodes, we could explore the team’s grief. Isobel (Alana de la Garza) is in the next episode, helping them deal with that grief. The reality is, as FBI agents and professionals, they have a job to do, but they’re also human. They grieve and they have emotions. So we decided to take all of that and throw it into the mix. So over the course of the next two episodes, we see the team dealing with the case of the week, but also each other and their grief and their loss and everybody’s processing it differently. And it just makes for a good story.

DEADLINE: At what point will we meet Dylan McDermott’s new character? What can you tease on that front?

HUDGINS: He arrives in the April 12 episode. We’re trying to keep some of that under wraps for now. What I can share is when we decided to make this move, not only were we figuring out Jess’ exit but also the entrance for the new character. We started creating the character, coming up with a broad stroke and sketches of this person. During that process, we got word that Dylan was available, and was potentially castable. When he was all in, we were thrilled because it fits perfectly with what we wanted to do and where we want to take the show. It’s invigorating.

We’re looking at it as an opportunity, as this sort of closing of one chapter and starting a new one with Dylan now in charge. I think it’s going to be really exciting and really fun for the fans. It will always be about the manhunt and getting justice — that’s the core of the show. But seeing this new iteration of the team do it this way with Dylan on board, it’s all very exciting. We’ve got, essentially, a six-episode arc that we’re circling for his character to get us to the finale for this year.

DEADLINE: Will he be feeling he has big shoes to fill?

HUDGINS: I think so because he does. The Fugitive Task Force is the elite squad of the FBI. You don’t get that job unless you know what you’re doing. And that’s part of the story too because hanging in the ether in those two episodes before Dylan arrives, is this idea of who [the new boss] is going to be?

DEADLINE: Can viewers expect to see friction between Dylan and the Task Force?

HUDGINS: Yes, there is some friction. It’s just natural when you’re grieving the loss of somebody. In the absence of Jess, you’re looking at where he used to make his tea and put his little honey bear in it or whatever. It’s emotional. There is going to be some friction and this pending question of, how are we going to do this, and how can we do this? And ultimately, I think it’s going to bring the team closer together.